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Mike Iupati out 6-8 weeks following knee surgery

ByNathaniel Reeves|
Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati (77) is carted off the field during the first half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati (77) is carted off the field during the first half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals will likely be without a big piece of their offensive line for the start of the regular season.

Arizona Cardinals starting left guard Mike Iupati will likely need to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery that will keep him out of action for six to eight weeks, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

Iupati was held out of practice on Wednesday to get tests done on his swelling left knee. While the news could have been worse for the Cardinals, an MRI revealed enough damage for Iupati to get the surgery.

The 28-year-old was an anchor on the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line for five seasons before signing a five-year, $40 million contract with Arizona this offseason. Iupati has been named to three straight Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2012.

While the Cardinals can feel relived that this wasn’t a more significant knee problem, Iupati’s injury is definitely a concern. Despite his overall strong play, Iupati has dealt with numerous injuries over the past couple of seasons, including a broken fibula in the 2013 NFC Championship Game.

Arizona brought in Iupati, an excellent run blocker, to improve a run game that ranked among the worst in the NFL a year ago. Andre Ellington and new acquisition Chris Johnson will have to hope someone else can step up and help in run blocking until Iupati is ready to return.

The already shaky Arizona offensive line is now clearly the biggest weakness for Arizona heading into the season. Right tackle Bobby Massie is suspended for the first three games of the year and head coach Bruce Arians has not yet named a starter at center.

Iupati’s timetable could put him back as early as Week 3 if he heals quickly and is ready to play at a high level right away. Until then, the Cardinals will turn to veteran Ted Larsen at left guard.

Arizona plays the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and 49ers in the first three games of the season, when Iupati and Massie will almot certainly be out. The Cardinals have enough talent to get through that stretch with no blemishes, but things get tougher quickly after that.

If the Cardinals are to realize their Super Bowl aspirations, a stable offensive line and respectable run game will be important. Iupati was supposed to be a big part of that, leaving Arizona with plenty of question marks at the moment.

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